John Abraham takes Marathi lessons

He is all set to don the gangster avatar in Shootout At Wadala. And even as John Abraham works on his physique to play slain real-life don Manya Surve, he is also set to brush up his Marathi language skills, considering Surve spoke in the local language.

He is all set to don the gangster avatar in Shootout At Wadala. And even as John Abraham works on his physique to play slain real-life don Manya Surve, he is also set to brush up his Marathi language skills, considering Surve spoke in the local language. And none other than director Sanjay Gupta’s friend and filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar will lend a helping hand.

John-Abraham

“Yes, Mahesh is going to help us out. So, he will meet John a few times, by the end of the month to discuss the nitty-gritties of Marathi. We are keeping their interactions at the end of February since the film goes on floors on March 1. So, things will be fresh in John’s mind by the time the first schedule kicks off,” confirms Gupta.

The Kaante (2002) maker feels it’s imperative that John understands and learns the nuances of the language. “Till date, he has never used rough language in his films. I want him to have the basic knowledge of the colloquial Marathi as it will help him grasp the minute details of his character,” says the director.

For the uninitiated, Shootout At Wadala, based on don Manya Surve’s life, is touted to be the prequel to Shootout At Lokhandwala (2007). It’s the story behind Mumbai’s first-ever encounter recorded in the police files. While John plays Manya, Anil Kapoor emulates encounter specialist Isaque Bhagwan. Kangana Ranaut will play the female lead opposite John. Shakti Kapoor’s son Siddhant will also make his debut in the film.

Besides helping out John, Manjrekar will also star in the film. “I have asked Mahesh to choose a role for himself. Mahesh and I go back a long way, from Kaante to Dus Kahaniyaan (2007). So, I want the association to continue with Shootout At Wadala too. Plus, he is a superb actor. So, he will also be a part of the film for sure,” says Gupta.